Carved by the Gods

The Mountain

My guards at the Mountain weren't so bad. I understood a few words in their language, they mostly discussed what their wives were making for dinner or what their children were up to. It was almost sweet if they didn't have the undercurrent of what they'd do to me if they caught me trying to escape. It wasn't pleasant to say the least. But through it all, through the fear and all of the worry I was feeling I felt at peace. Like if Bellamy was truly gone...I'd have no one else to worry about. No one else who cares other than Raven and even so, she's a Goddess who has more people to love and inspire. She had her duties. All of those who I'd come into contact with think I'm a monster now. So what was the point. If they wanted a monster, then damn them all...I'll give them a monster. Once a day the handmaidens would fetch me and take me to their bath house to scrub me down and dress me in the most lavish gowns, it was almost as if Mount Weather wanted to turn me into something more extravagant than I was. Like I was something to worship not fear. The gowns were almost always a blood red color with silver accents and blue gems sewn in. The sandals they provided were laced up to my knees and embellished with real silver accents, it was like I was royalty...but what good is that when I was forced to sleep in a damp cell. They paraded me around blindfolded half the time as if to say 'look who we have!' I was brought to meetings with their council, listen to the queen ramble about how their subjects weren't doing enough work for them, the king complained about the queens voice, and the rest of their council stayed silent unless spoken to. The snakes on my head were soothing me, it was like they could sense the fear in my stomach. I'd be resigned to the rest of my unfortunate life. No more adventures, no lifting this curse, nothing left. It was like I was trapped in this never ending pit of despair.
"Hai Hefa. Medo bilak gon." Someone whispered. I felt the air rush near me as they ran over.
"Kom nodotaim?" The King asked urgently.
"Bellomi medo. Emo bilaik gon." Bellamy! I whipped my head up suddenly interested in what was being said.
"Fis kom raun en sis au Bellomi." I heard a thud and some gasping. There was a loud clang and gasps, I heard voices clambering and all of a sudden the King roared orders at everyone. I didn't flinch once as everything crumbled around me, I just sat there poised with a large smile on my face, enjoying the chaos because there was a solid chance that Bellamy was still alive. The fact they were scrambling around screaming and crying because the King was throwing his plates and fists at anyone in his reach, proved to me, in my heart, that Bellamy was still out there and not abandoned on the side of the road dead with no one there. Stifling a laugh the room went silent.
"So you think this is funny?" The King snapped. I let out the giggle as there was no way he was going to frighten me further.
"I don't understand your language. So all I hear is commotion. It's humorous to me." I lied, still smiling. There was a small pause with some hushed whispers from the others I couldn't see. It was at that moment my blindfold was ripped from my eyes, all of the innocent lives in that room were solidified into beautifully carved stone, my shackled hands reached to cover my eyes but someone held them down looking away. The quick glimpse of the room I got was all reds and golds in flashes, people running and screaming. I shut my eyes as tight as I possibly could, seeing all different colors behind my lids in the dark.
"Never laugh." The King said slapping me across the face. He must have hit me harder than anticipated because I tasted blood in my mouth. I spit it out on the floor by his feet which prompted another hit.
"Take her away." He demanded. And with that the guards grabbed me by my arms and dragged me out, one warned people my cover was off, the other rushed me through the numerous hallways, it was like a maze in this palace. The sounds of our rushing feet echoed off the walls, their swords and leather hit each other making a small clinking noise, it was almost soothing. Almost. Another door opened after a brisk walk and they shoved me into a colder area, the dungeon once again. This time though they shoved me down the stairs, the tumble reverberated all through my body, every step I hit felt like a kick to my stomach, my back, my head, my bones cracked as I fell and fell and fell. Finally I hit the ground and struggled to get up, my stomach felt like someone had kicked me, my arms were shaky as I pushed myself up. The guards came down and the one to my right kick me in the stomach, my arms buckled and I fell to the stone once more.
"Mokswama." One spit. I groaned in agony, since they couldn't grab me by the hair without the now limp snakes, they both grabbed my arms and dragged me to my cell where they threw me in and slammed the door shut. I opened my eyes once they were gone, once they rounded the corner and went back up the stairs one of the guards began sobbing.
"Ai houmon. Ai Elian." He cried. I heard the other man shushing him and patting his back.
I killed his wife in that room. One of the advisors or servants or council members that caught my gaze was his person. And I took her life. I began to weep with him, covering my eyes with my hands and letting it all out on the cold floor. Alone. Wishing Bellamy was there with me to calm me down, to tell me it wasn't my fault. That everything we had been through was worth this feeling in my chest.
"Hey." Someone in the dimly lit dungeon whispered.
"Who are you?" They asked. I looked around, but saw no one.
"They call me Wanheda..." I began.
"Oh! You're Clarke!" They interrupted.
"Um...yes how did you know?"
"I've seen Bellamy! He's coming here! To the Mountain!" They spoke excitedly like this was their adventure not being trapped under a murderous King's palace. But hearing that Bellamy was in fact alive and coming to Mount Weather made me cry even more. My best and only friend was still alive, and I had confirmation. There was not a shred of doubt now and the chaos from upstairs was well worth it. Because they knew once he got here there would be no stopping him. Or us, from burning this place to the ground.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"My name will be forgotten with time so is it really important?" They said.
"It matters to me. You've told me the best news I've heard since I got to this hell hole." They stepped out from the darkness and it was Gaia. Indra the Goddess of War's daughter.
"How are you not-"
"Turning to stone? I may have given my place up, but I retain my power. I'm training to be an Oracle for Roan's temple, a friend of mine has his blessing, she healed him. While traveling to her home, I saw him sprinting. She then told me what had happened." She explained smiling. Her skin still retained a beautiful glow from her immortality. Her hair was twisted into long flowing dreadlocks the color was a deep brown, with some pale white strands in the front, her eyes were a lovely color, like freshly tilled soil in summertime, or the bark of strong trees. Her clothing was of dark robes, with small golden designs on the bottom, swirling and interlocking, the symbols for an Oracle gifted. She pulled a small hood up her robe and placed it lightly on her head.
"Why are you here? How did you get here?" I stuttered. She gave me a warm smile.
"I'm not really here, Roan allowed me special gifts when I went to his temple, beyond what any other has acquired in his time. I am here with you in spirit, I will continue to watch over you Clarke, the Gods are furious. Lexa has been aiding Mount Weather in their efforts to push all Gods out of their kingdom, she's causing fights in the streets, her temples now lie abandoned, all of her statues are in pieces. Her fall has led to her disgracing all of us. And now she's aiding the people responsible for thousands of deaths. Famine. They've been causing evil in this country."
"Lexa's behind this?" I asked shocked.
"Yes. Be on your guard once I leave you, she has arrived here but does not know of you being prisoner, or Bellamy being alive. SHe will soon enough and she will try to trick you." Gaia explained. I nodded and took this all in. A disgraced Goddess of Wisdom and Strategy...helping the enemy. I looked into Gaia's eyes and felt peace.
"I'll put an end to this." I declared. Her smile lit up the room.
"Bellamy will be here in two days. Until then. Be safe Clarke. I will do my best to warn you of anything. Be well." She wished. She touched my cheek, and the pain in my body from being thrown down the stairs faded into nothing. Whatever markings I had from it would be gone. I thanked her as she faded into the darkness, I was left sitting there in the cold feeling more hope than I think I ever had.